Image via HBO
Game of Thrones is no stranger to death and the bloodier the deaths are, the better. Fans of the show have witnessed some of the most brutal casualties in the 6 seasons of GOT from beheadings, to stabbings, to being burnt alive via Daenerys Targaryen’s three dragons. With hundreds of on screen deaths to choose from, how could one possibly decide which are the most disturbing?
After watching more clips of murder than a normal person should have to, we’ve finally attempted to compile the top ten most gruesome deaths featured on Game of Thrones before the seventh season premieres on July 16 at 9 pm ET.
Oberyn Martell
Season 4, Episode 8 “The Mountain and the Viper”
Cause of death: Skull crushed by the Mountain during trial by combat
Brutal Scale: ⚔⚔⚔⚔⚔
Arguably one of the most brutal and bloody murders in Westeros, Oberyn Martell’s death is almost too gruesome to watch. During trial by combat for Tyrion Lannister’s innocence between the Red Viper and the Mountain, Martell makes the mistake of taunting Gregor Clegane until he confesses that he raped and murdered his sister, Elia, during the Sack of King’s Landing. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t go exactly as planned, and Oberyn’s dragged out monologue gets his skull crushed into pieces literally by the hands of The Mountain, without even hearing a confession. RIP.
Ramsay Snow
Season 6, Episode 9, “Battle of the Bastards”
Cause of death: Mauled to death by his own dogs, set by Sansa Stark
Brutal Scale: ⚔⚔⚔⚔⚔
Ramsay Snow could die a thousand deaths and it would never be satisfying enough, but watching his own dogs maul him to death will have to do. Sansa Stark finally transforms into the badass bitch she was meant to be after the Starks reclaim Winterfell and sets Ramsay’s own ravenous canines on him, making his gruesome death number two on our list. Although having to watch someone be eaten alive by dogs is horrifying, there was no other way we would’ve wanted Ramsay to go.
Meryn Trant
Season 5, Episode 10, “Mother’s Mercy”
Cause of death: Stabbed in the eyes, stabbed, throat slit by Arya Stark
Brutal Scale: ⚔⚔⚔⚔⚔
This death is one of the longest and bloodiest in Game of Thrones, and it’s only fitting that it was carried out by Arya Stark. After stabbing him multiple times in each eye, Arya then stuffs Meryn Trant’s mouth with a cloth and reveals she is there to avenge Syrio Forel’s murder, who was her friend and teacher. Watching Meryn Trant suffer with his eyes gouged out isn’t recommended for the queasy viewer. After revealing to Trant that she’s Arya Stark, she then slits his throat slowly, spilling out more blood than thought humanly possible.
Mago
Season 1, Episode 10, “Fire and Blood”
Cause of death: Throat ripped out by Khal Drogo
Brutal Scale: ⚔⚔⚔⚔
Although Mago was a minor character, his death is one of the grossest and goriest in the first season. After defying Daenerys in front of the khalasar and challenging Khal Drogo to a fight, Mago’s throat is split in two by his own weapon and his tongue ripped out of his body by Drogo himself. There are no other words to describe this scene other than utterly disturbing and vomit inducing, especially when you remember the fact that Mago’s entire tongue exits his body. Talk about a tongue lashing! (Sorry).
Jon Snow
Season 5, Episode 10, “Mother’s Mercy”
Cause of death: Stabbed by brothers of the Night’s Watch
Brutal Scale: ⚔⚔⚔⚔
This death is almost as brutal as it is depressing. The newest and youngest Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, Jon Snow, is stabbed one by one by his fellow black brothers as they repeat, "For the Watch" after each jab. Talk about a betrayal. Jon’s slow and painful death would be far more disappointing if he (spoiler alert) didn’t come back to life the next season and hang the perpetrators for treason. Long live Jon Snow!
Walder Frey
Season 6, Episode 10, “The Winds of Winter”
Cause of death: Throat slit by Arya Stark after he is fed a pie with his two sons baked into it
Brutal Scale: ⚔⚔⚔⚔
Not only did Walder Frey get his throat slit agonizingly slowly by Arya Stark at his own table, he also ate two of his sons that were baked into a pie. The youngest Stark girl used one of her many faces to take the appearance of a serving girl before revealing her true identity and avenging her mother and brother’s deaths. Getting your throat slit is brutal enough, but unknowingly eating your own child’s flesh and blood? That’s just cruel—which might be Arya’s new MO.
Ser Rodrik Cassel
Season 2, Episode 6, “The Old Gods and the New”
Cause of death: Beheaded (sort of) by Theon Greyjoy
Brutal Scale: ⚔⚔⚔⚔
This should have been a clean and quick death, but inexperienced Theon Greyjoy needed three unsuccessful whacks and a final kick to actually behead Ser Rodrik Cassel. After spitting in Theon’s face after he takes Winterfell, the men of the Iron Islands all agreed Rodrik must pay the iron price of his life. The knight insists that Theon kill him himself, as the honorable men of Winterfell had done before him, but he is incapable of delivering a strong enough blow to behead him on one try. What unfolds is a series of disorderly and violent chops to Rodrik’s neck, splattering blood all over the crowd around them until finally Theon gives up and forces the head off with his foot. Definitely not the best way to go.
Viserys Targaryen
Season 1, Episode 6, “A Golden Crown”
Cause of death: “Crowned” in boiling gold by Khal Drogo
Brutal Scale: 3
The Beggar King finally received the crown he had been waiting for, although it may have not exactly been the one he had in mind. Viserys Targaryen, Daenerys’ older brother and rightful heir to the Seven Kingdoms, died at the hands of Khal Drogo when he was “crowned” in the Dothraki holy city after drunkenly unsheathing his sword. Although his death was not as gory and bloody as the ones mentioned previously, watching boiling hot gold being poured over someone’s head and hearing their screams is never pleasant.
Catelyn Stark
Season 3, Episode 9, “The Rains of Castamere”
Cause of death: Throat slit at the Red Wedding
Brutal Scale: ⚔⚔⚔
One of the many casualties of the Red Wedding, Catelyn Stark was forced to watch her own son, his wife and hundreds of Northmen die by the hands of Walder Frey and the Lannisters before her death. After being shot by an arrow and fighting for her life, Catelyn’s throat was slit by Black Walder. The cameraperson lingered on Catelyn longer than deemed necessary, and the blood spilling out of her throat could curdle even the strongest of stomachs.
Joffrey Baratheon
Season 4, Episode 2, “The Lion and the Rose”
Cause of death: Poisoned by Olenna Tyrell & Littlefinger
Brutal Scale: ⚔⚔⚔
One of the most satisfying deaths of the entire series, Joffrey Baratheon’s demise was fittingly the least noble and brave of them all. Watching Joffrey be poisoned at his own wedding was not just sweet, but also incredibly vile. His bloodstained purple face and discolored eyes stare creepily into the camera as his body convulses, and you can’t help but watch the entire ordeal.